A legal battle is threatening the future of Dutton-Goldfield Winery, a prominent name in Sonoma County’s wine industry. The Press Democrat reports the lawsuit was filed by Theresa Dutton, the ex-wife of co-founder Steve Dutton, against him, his current wife, Karissa Kruse Dutton, and their business partner, Dan Goldfield.
Theresa Dutton claims the trio illegally tried to force her out of the company by deactivating the business and re-forming it under a new name with Steve and Karissa as the sole owners. The dispute stems from the winery’s financial struggles and a verbal agreement that Theresa reportedly made to sell her share for just one dollar—an agreement she never formalized in writing.
The lawsuit seeks $750,000 in damages for her stake in the company. A court hearing is scheduled for later this month, and if a judge rules in her favor, it could force the winery to call in a $550,000 loan and potentially “destroy its ability to do business.”
